We Care in Anthem

We Care in Anthem >>> Community Anthem Responds to a Family in Crisis - November 2003
	The week started as most weeks do for Anthem families: kids to school, dad off to work, and mom either to work, or to the park or playgroups with little ones. For most days, this is also the standard for the York family of Anthem, until Friday, October 17. The day began as most do, except that little 4-year-old Brooke wasn't feeling quite herself. She had begun to lose color over the last few days, but showed no other symptoms. When Brooke did not respond to a little extra rest and lots of fluids, the family visited the doctor. He advised Brooke's parents to bring her to Phoenix Children's Hospital in Phoenix , where they found that her Hemoglobin count was abnormally low. The doctors believed Brooke could have a variety of illnesses, so they chose to give it a few days to see what transpired. After her counts continued to stay low, the doctors scheduled a procedure to take a sample of Brooke's bone marrow on Monday morning. Taking bone marrow is not a simple or pleasant experience, and since her counts were low, she had to be awake for this painful procedure.
Just before lunch, the doctors and counselors came to Brooke's room. What was first thought to be a simple virus had turned into something worse anyone could imagine. Brooke was diagnosed with cancer. The family went from instant shock, to disbelief, and to hopes and prayers that the tests were wrong. Later they were given a more specific name for the cancer Brooke had: it was called Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, a disease that now is curable in over 80% of the children that it infects. If not treated promptly, Brooke would only have 12 weeks to survive.
*Brooke York*	Doctors moved quickly. They performed a blood transfusion late Monday night to raise her blood counts, and used a spinal tap on Tuesday night to see if the infected cells had invaded her spinal fluids or made their way into her brain. Early Wednesday morning, all the reports came back negative. The cancer cells had not entered her spinal cord or brain - the first relief her parents had experienced in days. Now it was time to analyze the treatment options. Brooke came home Saturday, almost a week before everyone expected her. The carnival in Anthem was all she wanted to do that day. She loved it. Brooke's battle will not be an easy one. Weekly chemotherapy treatments at the clinic will change her moods, but not her spirit. The continual injections and transfusions will weaken her little body but will not weaken her will to survive. Without even being asked for help, the community has risen to the challenge of providing support to this family in need. As Brooke battles for her life, Anthem has responded with financial help with the staggering cost of Brooke's medical treatments, and through love and prayer. The Yorks have expressed their gratitude to the community for the immeasurable support they've received from individuals and businesses.
We Care in Anthem will be sponsoring various events all over Anthem, along with events initiated by many businesses. With the permission of the Yorks , Fellowship Church at Anthem has set up a link on their website so the community can stay up to date with Brooke's progress and the ever-growing list of fund-raising events to help with the tremendous financial burden this illness will place on the York family. Visit Brooke's page at the Web site www.fcanthem.com for more information. Fundraising Events held for Brooke HEDZ Salon Grand Opening week Nov 17-22. 10% of all sales will go to the York family. On November 22, Brooke will be shaving a few people's HEDZ. Call Lisa Morton at 623-434-7495. Franco's Pizzeria 50% of every spaghetti dinner to goes to the York familiy, lunch or dinner. Comedy Night at Franco's November 22, 2003 All proceeds go directly to the York family. Featuring: Homer Lopez, Vicotia Lipman, and Jerry Johnson. Lopez is an Anthem resident and Business conference trainer/entertainer performing in over 300 business conferences. Lipman is host of Comedy Connection on AM 1100 Mondays from 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Johnson is a regular on Comic View, with a guest appearance on D.L. Hugley on ABC, and performances with Patti Labelle, Chris Tucker, Wayman Tisdale and Sister Sledge. For more information, call 623-465-0900 Comedy Night at Franco's December 13, 2003 Featuring: Michael Colucci, Lindsey Snyder, and Tim Davis. For more information call 623-465-0900. Aloha Sunshine and Smoothies On Saturday, November 22 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Aloha will offer free smoothies and tanning, but asks for donations - 100% of which go to the York family. Donations can be can be mailed to the We Care in Anthem mail box, provided by Postnet: We Care in Anthem 3655 West Anthem Way Ste. A-109 PMB 280 Anthem, AZ 85086 You can also make a direct donation to a special Wells Fargo account: # 251-3305868.